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Youth group donates to Women’s Resource Center

The Women's Resource Center in Sweetwater recently received a large donation of many items for infants. Every holiday, the youth at First Baptist Church in Roscoe participate in a community service project. This year, church member and Women's Resource Center volunteer Gaynell Harrell suggested that the students donate to the center. The youth group — with students ranging from eighth to 12th grades — raised about $400 and used the money to purchase items for the Women's Resource Center. Purchased were bottles, diapers, wipes, baby shampoo, rash cream, wash cloths, towels, bibs, blankets, sippy cups and many other items."We usually only have enough to purchase diapers and wipes for the center," said volunteer Jo Thompson. "This is a real treat to have these items donated to the center."Youth minister at the church, Clay Jacobson and his wife, Melissa, said that the eight youth group members enjoyed the project. "They had a good time. It was very educational for them and they had a lot of fun with this year's youth project."The Women's Resource Center, located at 310 Hickory Street in Sweetwater, gives assistance to women who are pregnant or who have small children and are having a difficult time providing for them. They administer pregnancy tests, and if the test is positive and the mother does not have insurance coverage, the center will assist in the preparation of Medicaid papers to obtain coverage. They also provide a voucher for the client to obtain prenatal vitamins until Medicaid coverage begins.Other services provided by the center include some maternity clothes and when the baby is born, they provide a complete layette and continue to provide supplies such as diapers in sizes 1-5, formula, bottles, powder, baby lotion, baby bath and baby shampoo. They also have some baby food and cereal and in the clothes room, there are new and slightly used clothes in sizes newborn to 4T.The Women's Resource Center is funded by several groups including the United Way, Nolan County Foundation, several churches and other organizations, as well as many concerned individuals. They also sponsor bassinet showers at different churches. Bassinets are placed in the church and are left for one month so that the worshippers there may bring the supplies. Donation of clothes that have been outgrown are accepted. The center has a washer and dryer at the facility and each garment is cleaned before being put in the clothes room.The center does not charge for any of its services or any assistance that is given. It is operated by volunteers and at the present time there are only six active volunteers. Anyone who has a spare three hours and would like to volunteer in invited to come by the center.Hours of the center are Monday through Friday mornings from 7 a.m. to noon and afternoons from 1-4 p.m. However, at the present time they are only able to be open four mornings a week and one afternoon. It is their desire to be there every morning and afternoon and if possible to have two volunteers for each shift.